Celebrating the 2019 Leadership in the Workplace Honorees
Camille Walker Banks
Camille Walker Banks
Executive Director
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses
Wayne State University
Education: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Wayne State University
Master of Urban/Regional Planning, Wayne State University.
Camille is a respected advisor to the region’s business sector and a thought-leader for entrepreneurial growth. Her 20-year career has a strong foundation in business development and process improvement that spans across industries including technology, service, manufacturing and philanthropy. Under Camille’s leadership, Michigan companies participating in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business program have outpaced both the national average US small businesses and Goldman Sachs 10,000 in increased revenues and job creation. She serves on a number of boards and has worked to establish and sustain incubators and accelerators in the SE-Michigan region since 2007The Michigan Chronicle’s Women of Excellence (2015), Great Lakes Women’s Business Council’s Partner of the Year (2015), the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s CEO of Excellence Award (2012) and an Award of Appreciation from the City of Highland Park (2011). With a successful career in finance and economic development across multiple sectors, Camille held leadership posts with KPMG LLP, AT&T Capital, Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and Wayne State University. A classically trained pianist, Camille is an avid lover and supporter of music and theatre.
Andrea Brimmer
Andrea Brimmer
Chief Marketing and Public Relations Officer
Ally Financial
Education: Bachelor’s Degree, Michigan State University
Andrea is responsible for overseeing the company’s marketing, advertising, public relations, market research initiatives, social media and brand management. Prior to joining Ally in 2006, Andrea spent 20 years on the agency side in Detroit, where she led the Chevrolet account and launched the iconic American Revolution campaign, as well as numerous product offerings. In 2014 and 2015, Andrea was named to the Forbes list of 50 Most Influential CMOs. In 2015, she was named to the 100 Leading Women list by Automotive News, and their 2016 ALL STAR of MARKETING for her forward-thinking approach and creative knack with the successful launch of Ally’s brand campaign earlier in the year. In 2017, Andrea was named “Marketer of the Year” by the Financial Communications Society, and recognized for the successful launch and widespread impact of Ally’s “Do It Right” brand campaign. In 2018, Andrea was named to AdAge’s esteemed list of Women to Watch, cited for her forward-thinking, disruptive approach. Andrea is a mentor for junior colleagues at Ally and students at Michigan State and Clemson Universities.
Michele Hodges
Michele Hodges
President
Belle Isle Conservancy
Education: Bachelor degree, Social Science, Michigan State University
Graduate of Michigan Political Leadership Program, and the Institute for Organization Management
Michele commenced her tenure as president of the Belle Isle Conservancy in December of 2012 to bring more private and public resources. Prior to the Conservancy, Michele had been president of the Troy Chamber of Commerce since 2001, a dynamic organization comprised by more than 700 of Troy’s top companies. Michele held a variety of economic development positions with the Detroit Regional Chamber before joining the Troy Chamber. She has also served as director of the DDA and as a business development team member for the City of Southfield, and as director of economic development for the City of Eastpointe. Michele sits on numerous boards and committees, including the DSO Board of Trustees, Grosse Pointe Park Foundation, Girl Scouts of Southeast Michigan Advisory Board, and CORP! Magazine Advisory Board. She has received many accolades for her service including One Tough Cookie by Girl Scouts of Southeast Michigan, a Transit Champion by TRU, a Distinguished Leader by Leadership Oakland, a Community Builder by Habitat for Humanity, Outstanding Business by Leadership Troy, a Featured Innovator by Congressman Joe Knollenberg, an Executive to Watch by Oakland Business Review, a Leader/Innovator by the Great Lakes IT Report, one of Michigan’s Most Influential Women by Inforum and Deloitte, and Michigan Chamber Professional of the Year by the MACP.
Faith Fowler
Faith Fowler
Pastor, Cass Community United Methodist Church
Executive Director, Cass Community Social Services
Education: Bachelor’s degree, Albion College
Master of Divinity, Boston University School of Theology
Master of Public Administration, University of Michigan, Dearborn
Along with leading her congregation, Faith runs a nonprofit agency that provides food, housing, medical/mental health and employment programs for people living in areas of concentrated poverty. She has held these positions since 1994. In addition, Faith has served as a board member of the Cass Corridor Neighborhood Development Corporation, an advisory board member of the Detroit Area Agency on Aging and a board member and trustee on the General Board of Church and Society.
In 2014, Rev. Fowler founded Cass Community Publishing House. She has authored two of CCPH’s books, This Far by Faith: Twenty Years at Cass Community and Tiny Homes in a Big City.
She currently serves as an adjunct professor for the University of Michigan – Dearborn.
Her interests include reading, running, the environment and travel. Rev. Fowler has finished the Boston Marathon four times. She has visited Zimbabwe, Africa; Sydney, Australia; Seoul, South Korea; Russia, as well as several countries in Europe. She also enjoys public speaking and regularly addresses religious, civic, corporate and academic groups. Faith has lived in Detroit for the last 30 years. She recently sold her historic Victorian house in Corktown in order to live and participate with people residing on the Cass campus and in the tiny homes community.
Gretchen Perkins
Gretchen Perkins
Partner, Business Development
Huron Capital
Education: Bachelor of Business Administration, University of Michigan
Gretchen is responsible for managing Huron’s business development and investment sourcing activities and is also involved in investor relations. Gretchen has over 30 years of experience in the finance and business development sectors serving a variety of capital market participants. Prior to joining Huron, Gretchen led the acquisition sourcing efforts at Long Point Capital, a middle market private equity fund. Gretchen also served as Vice President – Business Development for IRN, Inc., a market research firm, and has held senior business development positions at Fleet Capital Corporation and GE Capital Corporation, where she originated and structured senior debt packages for buyouts of middle-market companies.
Women Thrive Shooting Star Honorees!
Genevieve Anyiah
Genevieve Anyiah
Founder and CEO
Embrace the Natural You
Education: Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, University of Detroit Mercy
Master of Science, Finance, University of Michigan, Dearborn
License, Paul Mitchell School of Cosmetology
Genevieve founded the company in 2012 as a blog to share natural hair tips, tutorials and product reviews. Prior to starting the company, she had worked in finance positions for The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Huntsman Polyurethanes, and Autoliv. Since 2012, Genevieve has been a keynote speaker at various natural hair events, featured on the local news, and featured in various publications, sharing her knowledge of natural hair care. She also became a Licensed Cosmetologist and Natural Hair Cultivist in the State of Michigan and frequently uses Embrace the Natural You products on her clients at the Embrace Hair Art Studio in Southfield, MI.
Laura Grannemann
Laura Grannemann
Vice President of Strategic Investments
Quicken Loans Community Fund
Education: Degree in International Development, Georgetown University
After graduating from Georgetown University, Laura co-founded The Quicken Loans Community Fund, which drives philanthropic strategy for the Quicken Loans Family of Companies. While her education was focused internationally on China and Burma, she has been able to apply much of the same economic and social development methodology to the city of Detroit. She focuses on breaking down complex systems related to economic development, housing stability, and employment, including Detroit’s tax foreclosure crisis, the mortgage market in the city, and creating education programs that prepare students for 21st century jobs in Detroit. Additionally, Laura oversees national investments that create value for the business and community. During her time at the Community Fund, Laura has launched Rehabbed & Ready, Motor City Mapping, Neighbor to Neighbor and the Make it Home program, affecting tens of thousands of Detroit residents, allowing families to stay in their homes, become homeowners, and build equity and opportunity. Laura was named a “Crain’s 20 in the 20s” honoree in 2018. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Urban Land Institute, Fox News, and more.
Bailey Sisoy Isgro
Bailey Sisoy Isgro
Founder and Owner
Detroit History Tours
Education: Bachelor of Fine Art Degree in Sculpture, College of Creative Studies
Bailey Sisoy Isgro is the owner of Detroit History Tours and the proprietress of the Detroit History Club. She is an author, humorist, workaholic, Faygo-loving tour guide from the great City of Detroit. A lover of city ephemera her most prized possessions include her antique books about Detroit penned by Clarence M. Burton himself, her Library of Congress readers card, her collection of vintage jewelry, and signed pay stubs of Edsel Ford. A frequent essay contributor, her most recent work can be seen in The Detroit Neighborhood Guide Book. Her first children’s book, Rosie A Detroit Herstory, hits shelves Summer 2018 from Wayne State Press and is already receiving rave reviews. She has appeared on television as a contributor on the Travel Channel’s Tough Boats and Globe Trekker series, is a common guest on history-themed podcasts, and has written op-eds for local papers. She also likes to think her mother is proud. When she isn’t tramping around Detroit giving tours, drinking at century-old bars, and talking history with anyone who’ll join her, she can be found at her home in Highland Park, “a little slice of heaven inside Detroit”. She is meticulous in her research and passionate about historical accuracy, yet she takes great joy in presenting history in the most exciting, playful, and accessible way possible. A passionate connoisseur of all things delicious, she adamantly argues the health benefits of coney dogs and Vernors floats.
Michigan Business Women Hall of Fame 2019 Inductees!
Teresa Lucido
Teresa Lucido
Senior Vice President, Sales Excellence
Comcast Spotlight, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable.
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Communication, Michigan State University
Teresa has more than 30 years of media experience spanning print, agency, radio, television and digital. She joined Comcast Spotlight in 2006 and held successive leadership positions in the company’s Michigan markets including vice president and general manager, as well as divisional senior vice president. Before joining Comcast Spotlight, Teresa spent nearly 18 years with the Detroit Media Partnership, where she held several sales and marketing management positions, including vice president, advertising sales. Teresa was named by Cablefax to the 2018 Sales Hall of Fame and is a multi-year winner of their Most Powerful Women in Cable award. She was also recognized as one of the newspaper industry’s Top 20 under 40 by Press Time Magazine. In addition, Teresa received a national philanthropic award for her volunteer work with Detroit’s St. John Hospital & Medical Center. She also serves as a trustee for Sparky Anderson’s CATCH Charity for Children benefitting Children’s Hospital of Michigan and Henry Ford Hospital. She is a graduate of the WICT Betsy Magness Leadership Institute, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania’s Executive Leadership Program and the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Leadership Detroit Program.
Juliette Okotie-Eboh
Juliette Thorpe Okotie-Eboh, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President of Public Affairs
MGM Grand Detroit
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, Hampton University
Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning, University of Pennsylvania
Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Planning, University of Michigan
Juliette serves as a member of the Executive Committee and is responsible for overseeing all government affairs and community affairs activities for the property. Juliette joined the MGM Grand Detroit family in 2003 from the Detroit Medical Center (DMC) where she served as Senior Vice President & Ombudsman for the areas of community affairs and Diversity Management. She served for nearly 20 years in Detroit City government, including Chief of Research of the Planning Department. Juliette spent two years in Benin City, Nigeria and directed the preparation of master plans for eleven Nigerian cities/towns. She serves on numerous boards, including the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, Detroit Institute of Arts, Coleman A. Young Foundation, Detroit Area Agency on Aging, Michigan Opera Theatre, Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts, and many other civic, arts and philanthropic organizations. A native Detroiter, Juliette was educated in the Detroit Public School system and received degrees show above. In 2016, Juliette published Ten Things I Know, a reflective book that shares secrets to getting the most out of life and career advice for readers of all ages. Juliette lives in the city of Detroit and is the proud mother of Margaret, her favorite travel companion.
Barbara McQuade
Barbara L. McQuade
Professor
University of Michigan
Education: Bachelor of Arts, University of Michigan
Juris Doctorate, University of Michigan Law School
Barbara’s law practice has covered criminal law, criminal procedure, national security, data privacy, and civil rights. From 2010 to 2017, Barbara served as the U.S attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. Appointed by President Barack Obama, she was the first woman to serve in her position. She also served as vice chair of the Attorney General‘s Advisory Committee and co-chaired its Terrorism and National Security Subcommittee. Barbara also serves as a legal analyst for major news media. Before becoming U.S. attorney, Barbara served as an assistant U.S. attorney in Detroit for 12 years. Barbara began her career as a law clerk for U.S. District Judge Bernard A. Friedman in Detroit, and then practiced law at the firm of Butzel Long in Detroit. She has been recognized by the Detroit Free Press with the Neal Shine Award for Exemplary Regional Leadership, The Detroit News with the Michiganian of the Year Award, Crain’s Detroit Business as a Newsmaker of the Year and one of Detroit’s Most Influential Women, and the Detroit Branch NAACP and Arab American Civil Rights League with their Tribute to Justice Award.
Ann Thomas
Ann Thomas
Executive Producer
News/Talk 760 WJR
Education: Michigan State University
Ann is the executive producer of the Paul W. Smith Show heard 5:30am-9am weekdays on News/Talk 760 WJR. Ann began her career at WJR in 1982 as an intern from Michigan State University and has since remained a part of the WJR team. She started her broadcasting career in the WJR news department as a street reporter and an anchorwoman. When Ann and her husband Ed began their family, WJR installed a remote studio in her home known as the “WJR Oakland County Bureau” so she could work and take care of her small children. In 1999 when her youngest daughter began school full-time, Ann returned to the WJR studios to produce the Paul W. Smith Show. During her years at WJR, Ann has received numerous awards from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, United Press International, the Associated Press and the Detroit Press Club for her work on and off the air. In 2008 she was the recipient of the prestigious “Diamond” award from the Women in Communications Organization. Ann is also the host of WJR’s “Women Who Lead” on air and internet programs. When out of the “Golden Tower of the Fisher Building,” Ann is the Chairman of the Marketing committee at Loyola High School in Detroit. Ann also donates her time to be the Mistress of Ceremonies for several charities.